Printing method and machine



Feb. s, 1938.

L. H. AMDUR PRINTING METHOD AND MACHINE Fil d Sept. 12, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 1 A. 4% Mam s 3 w 3 23M 0 m J 7 3 5 7 u Feb. s, 1938. H, AMDUR 2,107,273

PRINTING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet; 2

VINVENTOR.

Feb; 8, 1938.

N L. H. AMDUR 2,107,273

PRINTING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1 935 Fig.9

3 SheecsSheet 5 L 705 I, wit u. |*\1 r01 704 7035 INVENTOR.

. Patented Feb. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRINTING METHOD AND MACHINE Leon H. Amdur, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application September 12, 1935, Serial No. 40,251

17 Claims.

This invention relates to methods of, and machines and devices for, making copies or duplicating or printing compositions, in which a ribbon is employed for each line of the composition, upon which characters are typed, stenciled, embossed, engraved or otherwise formed. Separate pieces, given the designation backers, are provided as a base or foundation for each character formed on the ribbon. For the spaces between words, members, given the designation spacers, are employed. The spacers may be similar in principle to the ordinary spaceband used in the Linotype machine and are expandible (or contractable) for the purpose of achieving justification. After the ribbon line is justified, an impression is taken therefrom.

The backers are of uniform width; inasmuch as the letter-spacing of typewriters is the same for every character in the alphabet, the method of printing employing backers of uniform width, may be practiced on a machine which would be not unlike an ordinary typewriter but modified, in accordance with the requirement of my novel methods of justification and printing. The composition thus prepared would appear like ordinary typed matter, except, of course, the lines would be justified.

It is possible and practical to provide a typewriter with font of type of the kind used in printing; the composition prepared on a typewriter provided with such printing type would appear exactly as printed matter, except, of course, for the fact that (1) the line would not be justified and (2) the letters and other characters would be equally spaced. Such a composition, especially because of the latter difierence,

would be of ungainly and haphazard appearance,

and would be entirely unacceptable. This accounts for the vast difference between the font of type used in typewriting and those used in printing; that is, the typewriter characters have been especially designed for equal spaces; some characters, such as the i, Z, t, etc., have been widened, and others, such as m, etc. have been narrowed.

In addition to the first of the two differences between typing and printing, viz, justification, the present invention provides for the second of the two differences, viz, variable spaces for the different characters. Hence one of the objects of this invention is to provide methods of, and machines for, attaining variable character widths in a typewriter. Another object is to provide the proper space (i. e., width) for the different characters. A further object is to provide methods and machines for preparing typed compositions, the lines of which shall be justified and the characters of which shall have the proper predetermined widths. A further object is to provide methods and devices for preparing, as by typing, composition which shall appear as printed matter.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description. It is to be understood that this detached description is not to be taken in a limiting sense since the scope of my invention is best defined by the appended claims. An illustrative embodiment disclosing the improvement of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of part of the machine showing the unit backer feed and the advancing and ribbon feed mechanism. 20

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the part of the machine shown in Fig. 1 and shows the unit backer feed, the universal bar and the shift key dog.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the part of the machine shown in Fig. 1 and shows the shift key and its dog and the variable advancing mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of part of a machine in which the backers and spacers are returned to the right, and Fig. 5 is a plan View thereof.

Fig. 6 shows a spacer having an independent ribbon rest element, and also mechanism for actuating this element and the ribbon holding means.

Fig. '7 illustrates a pivoted backer.

Fig. 8 depicts a washer used in the machine of Figs. 9 to 11 in place of backers.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a part of a machine using washers in place of backers.

Fig. 10 shows a spacer slotted to stride the washer-rod.

Fig. 11 is a front elevation, showing the guide racks, the notching of the ribbon, and a spacer with accumulated ribbon. Figs. 11a and 11b are modified forms of ribbon notching.

Fig. 12 is a detail of a type-backer, and also illustrates the position of the pair of retaining bars.

Fig. 13 is a front view of a line of type-backers assembled and retained by the pair of bars.

The ribbon may be secured to the backers and left free at the spacers, or the ribbonmay be secured at the spacers and left free at the backers. The following methods and devices may be adapted to either method; for convenience in description and illustration, the methods and devices will first be applied to the first alternative, that is, in which the ribbon is secured to the backers. A machine employing this alternative, and modified to give different character widths is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 hereof.

The backer runway has a front rail l0) and a rear rail I02, the space therebetween providing clearance for the spacers, which are of considerable length. The ribbon c is secured to the backers b, as by adhesion, and is crimped or indented (k) at the spacers.

The characters of a font of type may be classed according to widths, or a font of type may be designed in which the characters have, say, four, different widths. For example, calling the narrowest width a unit, an i or a t, 7, etc. would be of one unit width, an a, e, a b, 0

would be two units wide; a w or m, etc. would be three units, a capital W would be four units wide, etc. Of course, the division into four unit widths is only taken by way of illustration; the number of units may be more or less and is merely a question of designing.

But for the purpose of illustration in the accompanying drawings, four unit widths will be selected. Hence the unit backer employed in the present application will be one-fourth the width of the backers of the aforesaid application. Four columns of unit' backers, each contained in an individual magazine, see Fig. 2, are provided at the backer supply point, see the magazine walls 32, Fig. 1.

A pusher rod 33 is operated to push out a single backer upon the actuation of a character key and the formation of a character upon the ribbon. The number of unit backers which will be pushed out and fed tothe array will depend upon the pre-determined width of the particular character being typed.

The unit backer in the right or first column, Fig. 1, is designated bl, the next b2, etc., the unit backer in the left or last column is designated 134. To explain the principle of the invention, if the character formed upon the ribbon happens to be an i, only one unit backer bl will be fed to the array. If the character is a wider one, e. g., an it, two units, bl and b2 will be fed to the array. If the widest character is typed, e. g., a capital W, all four unit backers will be fed from their respective columns.

Means are therefore provided to control the number of backers to be advanced from the backer-supply to the array. Such means may be the interponent 300. The normal, inoperative position of the interponent is to the right of the magazine of backers, see Fig. 1. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the pusher 33 operates below the bottom of the backer magazines, so that the pusher, as it is moved forward is ineffective to feed backers from their magazines. However, by interposing the interponent 309, one or more unit backersmay be fed, depending upon the extent of adjustment of the interponent to the left.

To provide for the adjustment of the interponent to control the number of unit backers required, the interponent is made to slide, see slideway 30l, Figs. 1 and 2, on the interponent carrier 302. A spring 303 attached to the interponent and to the carrier or to the frame of the machine (as shown), tends to maintain the interponent to the right against a stop 304. The interponent is provided with a pin 305, which cooperates with a cam 33%, to adjust the position of the interponent depending upon the number of backers required. The cam 3%, as will be more fully described hereinafter, is controlled by the particular key depressed.

The interponent carrier 392 has a reciprocating movement, for which reason it is provided with a slot 301 in which is shown, Fig. 1, the fixed guide stud 3538. A spring 339, fixed to the carrier and to a part of the machine frame, tends to maintain the carrier in its rearward position, stopped by the stud 308 (the position shown in Fig. 1).

After the interponent has been adjusted (as will be soon described) the pusher rod 33 is operated. By reason of the fact that the interponent has been interposed a predetermined amount (say, the distance of two unit backers) between the pusher 33 and the lowermost backers in the respective magazines, the forward movement of the pushers will cause the required number of units (in this case, two) to be forced from their supply points, see Fig. 2. The pusher 33 has a definite reciprocational movement and at the end of its cycling is returned to the rear position (of Fig. l). The spring 309 returns th'carrier to its rear position (of Fig. 1).

The cam 30B is dependent from an arm 3l0 (see Fig. 2) which is integral with the collar 3i l The latter is slidable on the vertical spindle 3l2. Also slidable on the spindle is a lower collar 3l3 (see Fig. 2). The upper collar 3| l and the lower collar 3l3 are secured together by a rod 3M, so that the two move together.

The lower collar 3i 3 has a dog or projection 3l5 which underlies a number of universal bars 3l6a and Slfib, see especially, Fig. 3. The universal bars themselves underlie the key levers l2a. Referring to Fig. 2, the universal bars, only the front one Slim being seen in that view, extend across the machine and underneath the key levers In. The universal bars have a limited vertical movement on the guide posts (3H) at each end, the amount of movement being limited by the collars 3l8 on the posts. Springs 3| 9 attached to the bars and to. parts of the frame, tend to keep the bars normally raised and stopped by the upper collars 3 H3.

The universal bars, where they underlieparticular key levers have cut-outs 320, the depth of which depends upon the particular key, or rather, upon the width of the character formed by the depression of that key. The undercuts provided beneath typebar key-levers which form characters of the same width, would be of the same depth. Some points on the bars have no cut-outs, the depression of the particular key which overlies such points, would therefore depress the universal bar the maximum amount. On the other hand, the depression of a key, the lever of which overlies a point on the universal bar provided with the deepest cut-out, would depress the bar the minimum amount.

Were but one universal bar provided, it could be made integral with the lower collar so that a pre-determined depression of the bar, dependent upon which character key is depressed, will cause a corresponding depression of the collars 3 l3 and 3H and of the cam 383. In the ordinary typewriter a shift key is used to change the operative type from lower case to capitals. To enable the shift key principle to be used in this machine, two universal bars are employed 3l6a and 3l6b, see Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the dog 75 315 of the lower collar 3!3 is positioned so much beneath the universal bars that the maximum depression of the universals will not touch the dog.

To enable a universal bar to operate upon the dog 3l5 an interponent 32! is positionable between the bars and the dog 3i5. The position of the interponent 32!, i. e., under which universal bars it is to be placed, is controlled by the shift key by the following means. The interponent is held by the interponent carriage 322 and may be given a limited vertical movement within the slot 323 of the carriage 322. A compression spring 324 tends to keep the interponent elevated in its slot. The interponent carriage 322 has at its end nearest the keyboard a rack 325. A pinion 3Z5 inter-meshes the rack 325 with a segment gear 32?. The latter is secured to the rear end of the shift key lever 328, which is pivoted at 329.

When the shift key is not depressed (position of Fig. 3) the interponent will underlie the universal bar 3!8a, which may be called the lower case universal. Upon depression of the shift key, the interponent shall be moved under the universal bar 3!6b, which hence may be termed the capital universal.

The usual typewriter has two shifts. The machine described may have two, three or more sets of type on each type-bar and the shift key may have two, three or more depressible positions, the machine would be provided with a corresponding number of universal bars, each differently cut-out (323) depending upon the width of type in each set on the type bars.

A spring 329 (Fig. 2) attached to the upper collar 3!! and to a part of the frame, maintains the collars 3!! and 3!3, normally in a raised position (Fig. 2) with the upper collar stopped by fixed collar 33!). Hence in the normal position the cam 353 is in its uppermost position; the spring 353 attached to the backer interponent 393 (see Fig. 1) therefore maintains the interponent in an ineffective position to the right of the backer columns. v

Suppose that an "i is required to be formed. Since the shift key would not be depressed, the shift interponent 32! would underlie the lower case universal 3!5a. The key lever corresponding to the "i key is designated !2a-i in Fig. 2. It will be seen from\ this figure that the universal 3! 6a is provided with a maximum cutout 320-! at the point underlying lever l2ai. Hence universal bar 3!5a will be given a minimum depression.

The depression of 3! Ed, by reason of the presence of the shift interponent 32! (Fig. 3) will cause a like (i. e. a minimum) depression of dog 3i5, lower collar 3!:5, rod 3M, upper collar 3!!, arm 3H3 and cam 336. The depression (minmum) of cam 336 will cause, by reason of the pin 305, the backer interponent 305 to move to the left a minimum amount, i. e. one unit. Hence 300 becomes interposed between the first column of backers b! (Fig. 1), and the pusher 33. Subsequently the pusher 33 is operated. This moves the interponent and its carrier 302 forward and feeds out one unit backer, which is required for an (Ki!)- It might be well at this time to briefly outline the sequence of operations. The first operation is to either form a character (if a character key has been depressed) or to crimp the ribbon.

The typing (and crimping) point is on the line T-T, see Fig. 1. More particularly, the characters are typed on the ribbon between the points t and 1%, Fig. 1. For example, if an i were to be formed, it would be typed between the points i and t a It would be typed between the points 12 and t an m would be typed between t and f etc.

After the character has been typed (or the ribbon crimped) the previously formed array of backers, spacers and ribbon is advanced to the left (second operation). The array must be advanced an amount which depends upon the width of the particular character being typed. For example, if that character is an i or Z, etc., the array must be moved one unit; if a b or etc, it must be moved two units, etc.

Advance bar 3!] (Fig. 1 hereof) is provided and is removed from the array so that it is normally ineffective, to move the array. An auxiliary bar 33! is provided which is co-axial with the bar 35.

The auxiliary bar has a limited co-axial reciprocating movement, but is normally held by the spring 332 against a fixed stop 333, against which a pin 334 on the bar, bears. In its normal rightward position, the left end of the auxiliary bar is just to the right of the first unit backer b!. The right end of the auxiliary bar 33! is spaced from the advance bar 3!] the distance (a) the bar 30 is given at the proper time a reciprocating movement, substantially equal to the distance 2.

Hence, the advance bar 35 is normally ineffective to advance the array to the left. An in terponent 335, however, may be positioned between the advance bar 35 and its auxiliary bar 335. The advance interponent 335 is stepped at one end, the width of the steps being equal to the unit of a unit backer. The first step 335a is equal to the width of one backer, the second step 33% is as wide as two unit backers, etc. The width of the interponent itself is equal to four backers, the maximum in the illustrative embodiment.

The interponent 335 is carried on a lever carrier 331, upon which it is slidable on the slideway 338, a spring 339 tending to hold the interponent rearward against a stop 345. The lever carrier is pivoted at 34!; a spring 34! a normally tending to turn the lever carrier counter-clockwise (in Fig. 1) against a stop 332.

By adjusting the position of the interponent upon its lever carrier, by means operated by the character key, soon to be described, the advance bar 30 is made effective to move its auxiliary bar 33! to advance the array the required amount. For example, if an i is to be typed, the first step 335a will be interposed between the advance bar 30 and its auxiliary bar 33!, so that the first three-quarters of the stroke of 30 is idle. At the last quarter it moves the auxiliary bar 33! and the array the remaining distance of its stroke, namely, one-quarter of its stroke or the distance of one unit backer.

The position of the advance interponent 335, like the backer interponent, is controlled by the character keys. The interponent 335 has a. pin 343, which bears (by force of the spring 339) against a cam. 344 (Fig. 3) The cam is dependent from an arm 345, which like the arm 3H), is integral with the upper collar 3! Hence, when the collar is depressed (to adjust the backer interponent 355) by mechanism controlled by the particular character key depressed as already described, that same mechanism will adjust the advance interponent 335.

To recur to the description of the operation,

the depression of a character key will set the backer interponent and the advance interponent; the character is typed upon the ribbon. The next operation is to advance the array of previously assembled backers, spacers and ribbon. The advance interponent having been adjusted by the depression of the character key, the advance bar 33 is reciprocated to cause the proper advance of th array. The advance of the array, to the backers (or spacers) of which the ribbon is secured, will cause a leftward movement of the ribbon.

No mechanical feed is used herein; the leftward advance of the array will feed the ribbon the proper amount, the ribbon spool being loose on its spindle.

Suppose the letter typed was an a. occupying the portion of the ribbon from t to t i. e., the distance or width of two unit backers. The advance of the array will, bring this portion of the ribbon two unit spaces to the left of t The last member of the array will likewise be moved two unit spaces to the left of t There is thus provided clearance between the right end of the array and t for two'backers (bl and b2) The next operation is to feed the backers into the space thus provided for them. The backer interponent having been adjusted (by the depression of the character key, as already explained) to feed the proper member of backer (in the sup-- posed example, two backers) the pusher 33 is 0perated to propel the first two backers bl and 112, into the clearance between the end of the previously formed array and if It should be noted that the letter a occupying two unit spacers, \vill'thus be properly backed up by the two fed backers.

The above description of the operation explained the typing of a character and the feeding of the proper number of unit backers. The order of operation in the case of a space between words will be the same, except that the first operation is the crimping of the ribbon. The backer interp-onent and the advance interponent will be adjusted the proper width assigned to a space, say, three units. The adjustment of the interponents will be made by the space bar, the lever of which cooperates with either or both of the universal bars and Si'h. The advance bar 30 is then operated to advance the array. The backer feed pusher 33 is not operated upon the depression of the space-bar; instead of a backer, a spacer is fed to the array. The spacer is fed from above in the clearance between the right end of the array and t Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a modification in which as in Figs. 1 to 3, the unit backer will be taken as one quarter the width of the backer used in the aforesaid application. The supply of backers b are kept to the right of the typing and crimping point X-X in Figs. 4 and 5. The leftmost point of the backers retained (as soon to be described) in their supply position is at the line Y-Y, somewhat to the right of X--X. The backers (both when assembled in the array and when in their supply positions) rest upon the front rail ifif and the rear rail I07".

A compression spring I70 tends to move the backers to the left. A stop 400 is provided, which has a stop lug 40! on the line YY, which cooperates with the projection 402 on the backers to keep the backers from passing the line Y-Y.

The feeding of the hackers to the left to the array is achieved by the following mechanism: The feed bar 403 is caused upon the depression of a character key to move from the position in which it is shown in solid lines to the'broken line position. (The relationship of these'positionswill subsequently be made apparent). The left end of bar 403 is forked (see Fig. 5) to provide clearance for a feed pin 404. This pin has two trunnions 405 each fitting in a slot 406 on each fork of the bar. A spring 401 tends to elevate the pin 404 to the upper end of the slots 4536; in the normal, right-most position of the bar, this tendency is prevented by an adjusting plate 408. This adjusting plate is controlled by the character keys in the same manner as the backer interponent 300 (or the advance interponent 335 of Figs. 1 to 3 hereof). That is, plate 403 is adjustable from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 4 which position is four backers to the right of YY, to positions, three, two and one backers to the right of Y--Y.

In the position shown, i. e., four hackers to the right of YY, the plate 408 has been adjusted (by the character key, as explained) topermit four backers to be fed to the array. As the feed bar 453 moves to the left, the pin slips off the left end of the plate 498, and, by force of its .spring 401', finds a position between the dependent lugs 'l'i3 of the backers. But before the backers may move leftward the stop lug 40! must be removed out of the way. For this reason the stop 400 has a limited vertical movement on its Vertical guides 469. At one side the stop 480 is provided with a dependent wall 4E0, the lower edge M I of which is substantially at the level of the bottom of the dependent backer lugs [73. The pin 405 has a projection 4i2 extending under the wall 4E0 of the stop.

When the pin slips off the plate 408, as the bar 403 moves leftward, the projection 4|2 of the pin contacts the wall M0 and, by force of the spring 487, elevates the stop, thus permitting the required number of backers to be moved to the array. If but three backers are required, the adjusting plate 468 would be moved one backer to the left, i. e., three backers from YY; the pin would slip off at the third backer.

In the illustration, four backers would be fed to the array. As the fourth backer and the pin 4%, positioned between the dependent lugs of the fourth and fifth backers, passes the line Y-Y, the pin projection 45 2 slips ofi the left end of the wall of the stop 400. A compression spring 4H3 (or gravity alone) causes the stop 400 to drop, and its stop lug 40! to cooperate with the raised projection 4%? of the fifth backer.

The required number of backers, thus segregated from their reservoir, are continued to be moved until the bar reaches the dot-and-dash position. This position is the width of two unit backers, to the right of typing point X-X. On both sides of XX are marked off two backer widths, points t t t t and t (as already encountered in Figs. 1 to 3). In Fig. 1 it was seen that a narrow character, such as the letter i, is typed on that portion of the ribbon between points i and t In the present machine, narrow letters are typed between t and It a wider letter, such as n, would be typed between t and t and the widest letters, such as M, would be typed from' i to t a The feeding of the backers to the array will also move or advance the entire array the proper number of spaces to the left. Suppose the previous character was a narrow letter, as 2', which calls for one unit backer. The pin 464 would have picked up the first backer in the supply-point, i. e., the one at the line Y-Y. At the end of the stroke of the feed bar 403 (at the I I dot-and-dash position) this backer would be left between t and t Suppose the next letter is an m, calling for three spaces. These backers will be picked up by feed bar M3 and deposited in the array from point t to 25 The feeding of these three backers will displace the previous fed backer (for the i) from a position between points t and t to a position between t and t As already explained, the space between t and t will be cccupied by the last three fed backers (for the m) The feeding of the backers (and the resultant leftward advance of the array) will also feed the ribbon the proper amount to the left, since the ribbon is secured. to either the backers or to the spacers. Thus a fresh portion of the ribbon is presented to the typing point. It was seen, in feeding three backers (for the m), that the previous backer (for the i) is moved from t -t to 15 -72 In this movement of the array, a fresh portion of the ribbon is exposed from t to t 1. e., three backer widths. The letter m is then typed upon this portion of the ribbon.

The above description related to the formation of characters and the feeding of backers. In the providing of spaces between words, the depression of the space-bar, causes a crimping of the ribbon and the feeding of a spacer. The crimping and typing are done on line X-X, (Figs. and The spacers are fed from above at the line ZZ. The line ZZ is spaced from X-X the distance of three unit backers. This is an arbitary clearance and is based upon the assumption that the width of the spacer is equal to two unit backer widths. Hence when a spacer is fed to the array, the left half of the spacer will be reposed between point t and the line ZZ.

The rightmost unit backer of the last letter in a word will, as already pointed out, occupy the position from point t to The fed spacer will be just to the right of, and touching point t*.

The feed bar 403 may be utilized for the leftward advancement of the spacer. Inasmuch as no backers are to be fed when 303 is operated for the purpose of advancing the fed spacer (and the array and ribbon), the adjusting plate 498 is first moved to the left to the line Y-Y to cover all the backers to prevent the pin 404 from feeding any of them. The adjustment of the plate 408 to the extreme leftward position may be consummated by the spacer-bar, as in the manner described in connection with Figs. 1 to 3. That is, no cut-out (320, see Fig. 2) will be provided on the universal bars (3|5a and/or filth, see (Fig. 3) where it underlies the lever of the space-bar. Hence the adjusting mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 3 will be given the maximum depression tomove the plate 458 (Fig. 4) the maximum amount to the left.

The left end of the feed bar 193 contacts the fed spacer to move it from the line ZZ to the position from t to t This movement of the spacer (and the array) will, as in the case where backers have been fed, feed the ribbon the proper amount to the left. After which, the ribbon is crimped.

After the feeding of a number of backers or a spacer, the bar 303 makes its return stroke to the right. The pin 304 is pivoted on trunnions 495 to enable the pin to pass the backers held at their supply-point, the leftmost backer being retained on line Y-Y as already explained. As the pin 484 encounters the dependent projections N3 of the backers, it is turned counter-clockwise (in Fig. 4), to enable 403 to be returned without disturbing the backers in their supply positions.

The plate 408, or rather its left edge, will, like the lugs I13, maintain the pin turned counterclockwise. A stop H4 is provided near the end. position of bar 403, which stop cooperates with the lower end of the pin to turn it clockwise into a vertical position, a stop 415 being provided on the bar 3533 to hold the pin in a vertical position.

As previously mentioned, the ribbon may be secured either to the backers or to the spacers. In Fig. 6 is illustrated a spacer in which a separate element, i. e., independent of the movable part c, is used as a back-stop or rest for the ribbon. The ribbon rest element is designated 55B and is transversely slidable in the fixed member f of the spacer. The element is below the ribbon holding means :1, the front projection 253 of which appears in front of the rest element. The ribbon c is thus interposed between the holder projection 253 and the rest element 450. A spring 255 bearing against a collar 254 on the ribbon holder, causes the projection 253 to press the ribbon against the rest element. A universal bar 258 is operated, by means and at times soon to be described, to push the ribbon holder forward (to the left in Fig. 6) so as to allow the ribbon to shift during the step of justifying. Also, a universal bar 25? is shown underlying the ends of the spacer; this is actuated by the justifying key to raise the parts e of the spacers to cause expansion.

The movement of the justifying bar 25'! is utilized in the instant machine to actuate the ribbon holder, as will be soon shown.-

A third universal bar, 45L is required to cause the ribbon rest 45B of the various spacers to be moved forward.

To the ribbon holder universal bar 258 is attached a cam roller 258a and to the ribbon rest universal bar 45I is secured a cam roller 45m. The former cooperates with a cam 258b, and the latter, with a cam 45H). Both cams are secured to a spindle 452 to which is also secured a pinion 453, which cooperates with a rack 454 integral with the justifying bar 251. As the justifying bar is elevated, its rack causes the cams to turn and to operate the ribbon holder and the ribbon rest elements. The ribbon holders are moved first to give the ribbon suificient slack. Then, concurrently with the justification, the ribbon rest elements are moved forward to furnish a back stop or support for the ribbon. Then the ribbon holders are released to their springs 255 to secure the ribbon to the array.

The ribbon holder universal bar 258 may be omitted, in which case the ribbon will be held between the holder projection 253 and the rest element 455. It should be noted that, as 450 is moved out, the holder (1 will be forced out a corresponding amount, against the force of the spring 255.

As a further modified form the ribbon rest elements 455 may be omitted from the spacers, and the movable part e may be made to slide, longitudinally in relation to the stationary part 1. The mechanism of Figure 6 may be used, except that the rest element cam 45H) will be omitted and the ribbon holder cam 25% made to move the ribbon holders outwardly in proportion to the amount of justification required.

The last spacer, i. e., at the right end of the line, does not come within range of the ribbon holder universal bar 258. Hence in the last spacer the ribbon is held firmly between the projection 253 of the ribbon holder and the body of the spacer. As the line is justified and the last spacer (with the intermediate ones) moved to the right, the right end of the ribbon, firmly secured in the right end spacer, will be pulled rightwardly. This will cause a paying-out of the ribbon accumulated at the intermediate spacers. Since, as just described, the ribbon holder is moved outwardly in proportion to the amount of expansion required in justification, the projections 253. of the ribbon holders of the intermediate spacers, will ensure that the pay-out of the accumulated ribbon at each space will be the same amount.

When the ribbon is secured to the spacers, rather than to the backers, mechanism must be provided upon the machine to cause the ribbon to be interposed between the ribbon holder and the spacer body. See Fig. 6. This mechanism may be directly applied to the machine of Figs. 1 to 3 inasmuch as the spacer feeding point is the same as in the machine of the aforesaid application.

The cam 260 is made sufficiently long in order that the ribbon holder is not released to its spring when the spacer has been fully fed to the array at point Z--Z. At the lower end of the cam 260 is a leftward extension 260a (see Fig. 4) which maintains the ribbon holder away from the spacer. (In feeding the spacer, the ribbon has become interposed between the projection 253 of the ribbon holder d and the body of the spacer). The cam extension 260a terminates at a point such that the ribbon holder is released to the force of its spring just as the spacer reaches the position t t The ribbon holder then falls off the cam extension to accumulate (indent or crimp) the ribbon.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the backers are shown as separate pieces unattached to the machine. Manifestly they may be provided with holes through which a long stationary rod may be passed, so that the backers may not be removed from the machine. In feeding the backers to the array, they would be slid leftward on the rod, and would be slid to the right in returning them to their supply point to the right of Y-Y. As a further modification, the backers might be pivoted on the rod (1) as in Fig. 7 and, after being fed to the array, turned to abut against the ribbon c.

A modification of Figs. 4 and 5 is shown in Figs. 8 to 11, in which no backers are used. In place of backers, separators 500 (a detail of which is shown in Fig. 8) are used; two guide rails SM and 502 (see especially Figs. 10 and 11) are used to bear the ribbon and for other functions subsequently described.

The separators are made as Wide as the unit backers of Figs. 1 to 3 or Figs. 4 and 5, and are provided with a flange 503 which serves the functions both of the dependent lug I13 and the projections 402 of Figs. 4 and 5. That is, the flange cooperates with the pin 404 of the feed bar 403 in the feeding of the required number of separators to the array, and with the stop 400 (Figs. 4 and 5). The separator is provided with a central hole 504, through which passes a stationary rod 505 extending across the width of the machine and serving, on the right, to hold the separators at their supply-point, and, on the left, to hold the array of fed separators. As in Figs. 4 and 5, the left end of the supply of separators is at the line Y-Y; the washers are fed leftward to the array in the same manner and by similar mechanism, as in Figs. 4 and 5.

Means must be provided for holding the ribbon in place; this means is the double guide rails 50! and 502. A single plate the width of the ribbon could not be used, inasmuch as clearance must be provided for the passage of the indented or accumulated ribbon, as will appear subsequently. The pair of guide rails start at the typing point X-X, and the cams 253 and 260a (Figs. 4 and 5) keep the ribbon holder projection away from the ribbon until the spacer reaches the position from t to X-X (Figs. 4 and 11). The ribbon holder is then released to its spring to accumulate, or make a V-forrnation in, the ribbon.

At the typing point XX, i. e. to the right of the guide rails, is provided a platen, as in the aforesaid application, which is brought in position behind the ribbon, upon the depression of a character key, so that the character may be impressed upon the ribbon.

Referring to Fig. 11, it will be seen that the ribbon is wider than the space between the, two

guide rails 50! and 502. The ribbon, however, is notched (h, upper, and h h, lower, Fig. 11) upon the operation of the space bar. That is, the ribbon is notched from its upper and lower edges, an amount such that the remaining ribbon (m) is somewhat less than the clearance between the pair of guide rails. Hence, the V-forrnation in the ribbon may travel in this space. Note that the guide rails terminate at XX so that the ribbon holder projection may form a V, with the apex against the spacer body. In Fig. ll, to the left of X-X is shown a spacer s, with part of its fixed member 1 and movable member e, and illustrating the ribbon holder d with its projection 253 and the ribbon accumulated ('0). Note that the apex of the accumulated ribbon is between the spacer and the projection 253 of the ribbon holder d and (see also Fig. 9) that the projection is between the apex of the ribbon and the guide rails 505-502 and that the latter are between the ribbon (which bears against the rails) and the projection 253 of the ribbon holder. The ribbon is made sufficiently wide so that a border (n) prevents it from being pulled rearward through the space course, be made of sufiiciently stifi material.

Referring to Fig. 10, it will be seen that a slot- 506 is provided in the movable member e and also in part of the fixed member 1, of the spacer. The rod 505 is located in the slot, which is open at the lower end to permit the spacers to be fed to the array.

Instead of cutting out notches in the ribbon, slits h Fig. 11a, may be provided at the spaces through which the guide rails 500 and 50! pass, as the ribbon, formed into a V at this point, moves to the left. Instead, the ribbon may be notched in the center, m, Fig. 11b, and a single guide rail 500a: passed through them; the centered guide rail serves as a foundation for the ribbon, in taking impressions therefrom.

In operation, the washers act in the manner of backers to serve to keep the spacers the proper distance apart, namely, the length of a word. For example, if a word consisted of three letters each of two unit widths, six separators would be fed to the array, being preceded and 'followed by a spacer.

Instead of taking the impression from the ribbon line by line, a frame or form may be made up of line assemblages of backers, to the face of which the ribbon is secured; instead of using a ribbon, the backers themselves may be provided with raised type. The process would be as fol lows: The type-backers will be fed to the array upon the depression of the character keys, from magazines containing type-backers of the various characters (as in the ordinary type-setting machine). The depression of the space-bar will feed a spacer to the array, i. e., between words. The type-backers are illustrated in Figures 12 and 13. The type backers ('ifiil) have raised type (it upon their front faces, and are provided in their top faces with a notch M3222 and with a notch 102b, preferably of equal size in their bottom faces.

A bar, somewhat longer than the length of the line, is provided for the notches N322), and is designated 183D. In assembling the type-backers, their bottom notches fit slidably over the bar F8372;

After the line-array of type-backers and spacers has been assembled, the line is expanded to fill out the line from left to right margin. Thereafter a bar K131i, fittable in the top notches of the type-backer, is moved into place. The two bars are provided with means for securing them together. For this purpose, the bottom bar may be provided with a hole H34 at each end, in which pins 795 at each end of the top bar, tightly fit. By fitting the top bar in the top notches of the 'ustified type-backers and securing it to the bottom bar, the type-backers are retained in justified positions. Thereafter the spacers are removed from the justified line.

The removal of the spacers does not alter the justified positions of the type-backers, since they are retained in position by the pair of bars. The thickness of the bars is made substantially equal to the depth of the notches, so that the top face of 1831. presents a flush surface with the top faces of the backers; likewise the bottom face of 7233b is flush with the bottom face of the backers. The height of the assemblage, i. e., 783i, 166 between notches and 16317, is made substantially equal to the height of the printed line, so that the line-assemblages may be assembled together in a frame or form to make a page of composition.

The width of the type-backers may be made to correspond to the width of the characters or type, which may not only be made of appropriate width (as in printed characters) but may be made of identical design therewith. The impression made by this method would be identical with printed matter in that (1) the line would be justified, (2) the characters would be of appropriate width, and (3) the characters would be of identical design of printed type.

The machine of Figures 8 to 11 may be employed to prepare a page form to be used in making mimecgraph or multigraph copies or for use in a fiat or rotary printing press. In this case the ribbon will be slitted as shown in Figure 111), and a removable guide rail or strip, similar to 5001: of Figure 111), will be used to retain the justified ribbon. That is, no impression will be taken line by line, but each ribbon and its guide strip, representing a line will be assembled into a frame or form to make up a page of composition.

The ribbon, after it has been justified, maybe retained in justified position by adhesive on the guide strip or on the ribbon (in which case a press bar may be provided to secure the strip and ribbon after the latter had been justified) or by a frame which will fit tightly over the guide strip and hold the borders of the ribbon;

or by folding the borders of the ribbon over the edges of the guide strip, the adjacent guide strips cooperating with each other to hold their respective ribbons in place; or by pressing a bar from the rear of the ribbon to fold over the indented (crimped) portions of the ribbon.

Where the page form is to be used in arotary press or for mimeographic or multigraphic work, the guide strips may be formed with the proper curvature, so that the line-strips when assembled will produce a circular form. Where the page form is to be used in the mimeographic process, the guide strips may be provided with holes through which the ink may be applied.

I claim:

1. The method of printing characters which employs a ribbon upon which duplicative characters are formed and in which spaces are left between words, and which employs unit backers as a foundation for the characters formed upon the ribbon and spacers for the spaces left botween words, the step of placing a number of unit backers dependent upon the width of the character, in association with each character formed on the ribbon, and the step of placing the spacers in association with the spaces left on the ribbon.

2. The method of printing which employs a ribbon upon which duplicative characters are formed, spacers for the spaces left between words, and separators, which method comprises the step of maintaining the ribbon to present a printable surface, the step of forming characters thereon, the step of associating a spacer with each space on the ribbon left between words, and the step of positioning between the spacers a separator for each character formed upon the ribbon.

3. The method of claim 2 in which the last mentioned step comprises positioning a number of unit separators corresponding to the widthof the character.

4. In a spacer used in the method of printing, employing a ribbon upon which duplicative characters are formed, the combination of means for holding portions of the ribbon out of the plane of the ribbon and means against which the portions of the ribbon held out of the plane of the ribbon may rest.

5. The method of printing which employs a ribbon upon which duplicative characters of predetermined width are formed, and unit backers, the step of forming a character upon the ribbon and the step of securing the portion of the ribbon upon which the said character is formed, to a number of unit backers depending upon the width of the character.

6. The method of printing which employs backers bearing type and spacers, consisting of the step of feeding a backer bearing a character upon the depression of the corresponding character key, the step of feeding a spacer between words upon the depression of the space-bar, the step of adjusting the spacers to justify the line, the step of maintaining the type-backers in justified position, the step of removing the spacers, and the step of assembling the lines of justified typebackers to form a frame of composition.

7. The combination of backers bearing raised type, spacers for justifying a line of type-backers, and means for maintaining the type-backers in justified position after the removal of the spacers.

8. The method of printing uniform lines which employs a ribbon upon which duplicative characters are formed and a guide strip, which comprises the step of forming pairs of notches in the ribbon at the spaces between words, the step of indenting the ribbon between pairs of notches, and the step of passing the guide strip through the notches so that the apex of the indentations are on one side of the guide strip and the duplicative face of the ribbon is on the other side of the guide strip.

9. The method following claim 8, comprising the further step of maintaining the ribbon in justified position on its strip and the step of assembling the strips and their justified ribbons, each representing a line, into a page form, representing a page of composition.

10. The combination according to claim '7, in which the type-backers are provided with grooves, and in which the last-mentioned means comprises a pair of bars fitting in the said grooves of the type backers.

11. The method of printing comprising the steps of providing a ribbon upon which a line of duplicative characters in word groups are formed and providing for each character formed on the ribbon a number of unit backers dependent upon the width of the character.

12. The method of printing comprising the steps of providing a ribbon upon which a line of duplicative characters in Word groups are formed and providing for each character formed on the ribbon a number of unit backers dependent upon the width of the character and a spacer for the spaces left on the ribbon between word groups.

13. The method of printing which employs a ribbon, separators and spacers, which method comprises the step of notching the ribbon at the spaces left between words and securing the ribbon to spacers at these points, the step of separating the spacers with a number of separators dependent upon the length of the word and the width of its characters, the step of forming word-groups of characters, and the step of adjusting the spacers to justify the line of word-groups of characters.

14. The method of printing composition uniformly between a left margin and a right margin, comprising the steps of providing a ribbon of a length somewhat greater than the distance between the tWo said margins, forming duplicative characters on the ribbon in Word groups to represent a line of composition, and providing for each character a foundation corresponding to the Width of the character.

15. The combination of a pair of spaced guide rails and a ribbon upon which is formed a line of composition, the ribbon at the interverbal spaces being provided at each opposite edge with a pair of slits, and crimped at the said spaces, and the said guide rails being associated with the said slits and crimped ribbon so that the guide rails at the character bearing portions of the ribbon are behind the ribbon and the said ribbon crimpings at interverbal spaces are behind the guide rails, whereby the guide rails cause the ribbon to present a printable surface between crimpings.

16. The combination of spacers positionable between words and means cooperating with the spacers for separating adjoining spacers distances depending upon the length of the Word, the said means comprising a number of unit-elements depending upon the width of the characters and the length of the word.

17. The combination of a ribbon upon which is formed a line of composition, spacers positionable at interverbal spaces to which the ribbon is secured, means cooperating with the spacers for separating the spacers distances depending upon the length of the Word, the said means being discontiguous from the said ribbon.

LEON I-I. AMDUR. 

